Alright, so no real warning except that this chapter may be a bit slow and filled with a lot of story. Strap yourselves in for yet another layer to Victor's complex character!
After changing out of their police uniforms and into something comfortable, Nick and Judy followed the uniquely patterned hare through the halls of the complex in fragile silence. While she had no idea what her husband was thinking, Judy couldn't stop thinking of what her mind had told her earlier – of how she repeatedly used Nick as an escape whenever things got tough. The idea drove a spike of guilt through the bunny, souring her mood quite a bit.
The trio of mammals entered the elevator, and the silence was broken by the catchy tune that gently played over the speakers. Jack Savage's foot tapped along, but Nick and Judy had grown oblivious to it after living here for about a year. The lack of conversation reached a near-awkward state by the time the elevator made it to the lobby, so when the trio passed by the front desk, Judy made sure to greet Stacy with a short "Hello" and "Goodbye."
Cold air greeted the three mammals as they exited the complex. Nick instinctively wrapped his arm around Judy's shoulder as the bunny snuggled against the fox for warmth. It didn't take long to find the vehicle that belonged to Jack as it was the only limo half-parked in the lot. The black and white hare opened the door and beckoned the two cops inside before entering the sleek, black car himself. All three mammals sighed in unison as the heated interior staved off the bitter chill of the evening.
Jack knocked on the wall separating the driver from the passenger. "Take it away, Graham!" he cheerfully called. A moment later, the limousine began to pull out of the parking lot and onto the street.
Another silence fell upon the group, but this one was painfully awkward. Judy didn't feel up to doing anything else except leaning into Nick's embrace, and Nick seemed content with his current situation. Jack glanced between the two mammals, studying the many signs of the rough experiences that these two have been through. He couldn't help but feel a bit guilty, despite not having anything to do with the attacks against them.
The striped hare cleared his throat, grabbing the cops' attention. "Again, thanks for deciding to come along," Jack happily stated as a grin spread across his features. "It really does mean a lot to me."
"It's our pleasure," Nick responded with a sort of formality that was odd to Judy. "Besides, we're not one to pass up free food!" Judy smiled; there was the cool, confident Nick response she was expecting.
Jack chuckled. "You'd be a fool otherwise, I guess." He glanced about the interior of the car, seemingly looking for anything that would help him carry on the conversation.
Judy noticed this and decided to help the hare out. "So, I'm curious as to what your wife is like," she commented. "You mentioned her, but I can't help but imagine the stereotypical 'rich mammal's' wife when I think of her."
A hearty laugh escaped the hare's throat. "Yes, I understand how that would be where your mind goes, but don't worry, she's not like that. But she is full of surprises, so prepare yourselves," Jack smiled.
"Speaking of surprises, we didn't expect anyone to visit us just as we got home," Judy commented out loud.
Jack's topaz eyes widened in realization and embarrassment. "Well, why didn't you say anything? I could've come back later and given you two some time to rest!"
Nick chuckled. "I know I was hungry, so I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. I can't speak for Carrots, here," he admitted as he gave Judy an affectionate squeeze.
"I have my reasons," Judy teased playfully, hiding the fact that those reasons were due to a voice in her head. "But thank you for the invitation. It's been forever since Nick and I ever went out to eat, let alone been invited to dinner."
Jack nodded. "You're very welcome," he stated, and the trio of mammals fell silent again.
"So, where do you live?" Nick asked, hoping to keep the awkward silence at bay.
"On the other side of town, in the Meadowlands District," Jack answered with a smile. "I knew my wife would like it there, seeing as she always said it reminded her of Bunnyburrow."
Judy's ears perked as she heard this bit of information. "You're wife's from Bunnyburrow?"
The striped hare nodded. "That is correct. If I remember correctly, you also hail from that town, don't you Mrs. Wilde?"
A faint smile stretched across Nick's lips while Judy – out of slight embarrassment – covered her face with her ears. "Just Judy is fine, you know," she stated, knowing that Nick was probably going to tease her about this later. "And yes, I was born in Bunnyburrow."
Jack clapped his paws together, and a large smile resided on his muzzle. "Excellent! It's such a lovely place, that town; her parents' house, especially. I always look forward to the times where I get to visit with her, but lately, my work has been keeping me busy."
"I wanted to ask you about that," Nick spoke up as he leaned back against the seat. "How did you get to where you are now? And please don't say it's because bunnies are good at multiplying."
Jack gave a hearty laugh at that. "Trust me, I wish it had been that simple. I was lucky enough to have some close ties with the company, earning me a job as an accountant. However, I didn't really climb the ranks, so much as I befriended my predecessor. Our friendship grew to the point where he was comfortable with leaving me the business after he retired." The hare's eyes glazed over somewhat as he began to stare out the window. Judy involuntarily followed his gaze and began to watch the streets of Zootopia go by in colorful blurs.
"It only got harder after that, though," Jack continued solemnly. "There were a lot of mammals who disagreed with my boss's decision, and even more who just didn't like me in general. It took a lot of willpower and determination, but I soon got past all the threats and opposition. I ended up earning that position and the respect of my employees."
"That's quite impressive," Nick commented almost absentmindedly. "It also reminds me of another bunny that I know." He smiled down at the mammal in his arms. Judy looked up into his eyes in time to see the smile falter and his gaze shift away, seemingly remembering something that suddenly soured his mood somewhat. While she noticed it, Judy found it similar to how she had been treating him the past few days; out of a mix of guilt and empathy, Judy gave her husband's waist an affectionate squeeze. She received a quick, acknowledging hum from the fox in return.
Another silence fell over the trio of mammals in the limousine, but no one felt the need or desire to break it. Judy found herself staring out the window again, and she noticed that the scenery had changed considerably. Gone were the bright lights and bustling streets of City Center. Gone were the crowds of mammals going about their evening.
Instead, Judy saw a vast stretch of grassy meadows and top-of-the-line suburbs fly by the car. The Meadowlands was the bunny cop's favorite district; just like Jack's wife, the district reminded her of home. More than once, Judy found herself daydreaming of finding a home with Nick here and raising a family together. It was a dream that she now desperately clung to – one of her too-few lanterns in the darkest of times.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, leaving purple and pink hues painted across the clouds and sky. Paired with the natural blanket of grass and flora beneath, Judy was – unsurprisingly – reminded of Bunnyburrow. The bunny remembered the first time Nick visited, and how they spent most of every night sitting out under the stars and talking about anything and everything.
The memory seemed to meld with reality for a moment as Judy tucked herself into Nick's side some more. She could feel the cool breeze on her face, see the twinkling stars above, and feel her best friend's heartbeat against her cheek. Judy felt safe and content, and everything from the past week was gone. There was no kidnapping, there was no torture; no constant doubts were nagging away at her mind. Pure rest finally came to Judy, and it felt incredible.
And just like that, however, the memories faded. The starry sky and cool breeze were replaced with the interior of Jack's limo and the air conditioning it provided. The soft grass was replaced with expensive faux leather, and the trees faded away, leaving Judy in reality.
The only thing that stayed was her best friend, partner, and spouse by her side, and his heartbeat against her own.
Judy's thought processes paused as she honed in on the sound of that heart. The soft beat had been her lullaby after a night of lovemaking. The warmth had been her comfort in the most trying of times. This vessel carried a love for her that would never diminish, no matter what came between them. Judy found herself growing hopeful as she continued to listen to Nick's heart. The nagging voice in the back of her mind could not reach her now, and for the first time in a while, the bunny felt like she could take on the world again.
A flash of determination rushed through her body as Judy clung to this feeling with all her might. She allowed the hope to settle in her mind and take permanent residence, blocking out her inner demons. Suddenly, the world seemed just a bit brighter – a bit more tolerable. Judy smiled as she continued to listen to Nick's heartbeat.
Tonight, after dinner, I'll tell him, she thought to herself. Her heart excitedly skipped a beat when she didn't receive a reply.
Finally, Jack's voice gently broke the silence. "We're here," he stated with a smile. Nick and Judy both turned their gazes towards the window where they saw what seemed to be Jack's house. The two cops couldn't help but feel that it was a bit stereotypical, given Jack's occupation, but they were impressed nonetheless.
The house was large enough to accommodate most medium-sized mammals – such as Nick – but larger mammals would have a tough time just fitting through the door. The building itself was very square. Nearly every edge was a strict ninety-degree angle, and the walls at almost every corner were replaced with a large window, revealing the interior. Beautifully designed furniture that Judy couldn't help but call chic decorated the dining and living room – the two spaces that were made visible by the windows. Everything had a specific color scheme, though it was obvious that the most prominent color was white.
The front yard was painstakingly well-kept, too. Golden light from the house spilled out onto the grass, revealing several healthy patches of gorgeous and colorful flora. Small, decorative trees stood in front of the house at regular intervals, their buds' sweet fragrance carried by the wind. There was something very familiar about the scent that Judy couldn't place, though her mind wasn't trying all too hard. To top off the "look" of the house, a small cobblestone path led from the driveway to the front door.
After parking the limo on the long stretch of concrete that was the driveway, Graham – the driver – exited the vehicle and opened the door for the three passengers. "Thank you, Graham," Jack kindly stated as he hopped out of the car. Nick and Judy followed suit, making sure to put on their friendliest smiles for the jackrabbit, who ended up genuinely smiling back.
As soon as the trio of mammals were out of earshot, Graham retrieved a phone from his pocket and dialed the number without so much as looking at the screen – he had done this too many times to count. The call picked up on the first ring.
"Victor here," came the voice.
Graham frowned; the fox sounded drunk again. "It's Graham. You alright, Vic?" the buck asked, his faint Scottish accent laced with concern.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Victor replied in a somewhat slurred voice. The jackrabbit could tell that his boss was lying. However, against his better judgment, he decided to not press further.
"If you say so," Graham mumbled before getting back on topic. "I have news."
"Is it the good kind?" came the fox's question.
Despite not being in his boss's presence, the jackrabbit couldn't help but nod. "Yes. I just finished driving your old pal Jack Savage home, and guess who he brought with him."
The pause that Graham received in response was all he needed to know that Victor was going to be in a good mood. "Nick and Judy?" came the hopeful inquiry.
A broad smile crept over the jackrabbit's lips. "You betcha! He's having them over for dinner, just like you predicted."
Victor chuckled, and his being drunk slurred the sound somewhat. "Perfect! This is just what we needed!"
"So, uh, what do you want me to do now?" Graham asked, leaning against the hood of the limo.
"I want you to do your job," came Victor's reply. "Nick and Judy are going to need a ride home later, aren't they? Besides, Jack may not know it, but whatever goes on tonight is critical to my plans. I need you to make sure that everything goes alright – no drunk bigots or vengeful criminals, got it?"
Again, Graham gave an unnecessary nod. "You got it, Boss," he affirmed. As a sudden thought entered his mind, a frown crept over the jackrabbit's muzzle. "Uh, if I may?" Victor gave an affirmative grunt. "Why are you bringing Jack back into this? I though you two promised to never speak again after you first started this whole gang business way back when," the jackrabbit inquired.
"Yeah, well, some promises you just can't keep," Victor muttered – had it not been for Graham's great sense of hearing, he probably wouldn't have heard it. Suddenly, a loud scream rang out from the front of Savage's house, startling the jackrabbit enough to almost drop the radio. "What the hell was that?" Victor asked, sounding just as spooked.
After taking a few moments to recover, Graham realized exactly what had happened. A bright smile crept over his features as he brought the radio up to his muzzle. "I do believe that Nick and Judy have just met Jessica."
"Jessica!?" Judy shouted in disbelief. Standing in the doorway of Jack Savage's house was a bunny with dark brown fur; a splash of cream on her muzzle, neck, and paws; and sparkling, hazel eyes. She was about an inch taller than Judy and wore a loose, long-sleeved shirt and jeans – she and Jack didn't dress like Judy thought multimillionaires would.
"Judy!" Jessica cried out, immediately embracing the bunny cop with a warm hug. "Oh my god, it's been so long!"
"I know, right?" Judy agreed. Her muzzle was split in a wide smile that showed no signs of leaving anytime soon.
Nick inched over towards Jack, who had stepped back to watch the show. "So, our wives know each other," the fox simply stated, his eyes refusing to leave the commotion before him. His deducing skills kicked in, and he realized the answer before Jack had even opened his mouth to reply.
"I'd be surprised if they didn't. You see, Jessica is a Hopps," Jack commented with a smile. "If I remember what Jess said to me the other day correctly, these two aren't from the same litter, but grew close enough to be so. Jessica's older by quite a few years."
"Yeah, he's my husband," Nick heard Judy say, drawing his attention away from his musings and back towards reality. He saw the brown bunny turn towards him with a smile.
"Nick, right?" she asked, holding out her paw.
Judy watched as Nick put on his friendliest smirk. "That's my name; don't wear it out," he joked as he reached for Jessica's paw. Judy couldn't suppress the giggle that erupted from her throat when her sister suddenly charged Nick and embraced him tightly, taking the fox by surprise.
After a few moments, Jessica released her grip on Nick and stepped back, smiling all the time. "There. Now I've officially met the fox who stole my sister's heart," she triumphantly stated before turning back to Judy. "How'd you ever manage to land this guy?" Jessica teased as she jerked her thumb in Nick's direction.
"It's a long story," Judy played along, rolling her eyes.
"Perfect. I like a good story, and we've got plenty of time tonight. Don't we, Jack?" the brown bunny asked, turning towards her husband.
Jack smiled and nodded. "Just remember to give me some time to talk about what I planned."
Jessica nodded before grabbing Judy's paw and leading her sister into the house. Nick and Jack remained rooted to the spot for a few moments longer. The hare eventually turned towards the fox with an amused expression on his face.
"So," Nick spoke up, breaking the silence.
"So," Jack repeated, still smiling at what had just transpired a few moments ago.
"I can see why you kept this a surprise," Nick continued. "Had Judy known earlier, she probably would never stop rambling about how awesome – or terrible, depending on the situation – her sister was until we finally come over and met her."
Jack nodded and turned back towards the house. The aroma of dinner was beginning to waft out the open door, reaching the noses of the two males. "Do you want to head inside?" the hare asked, jerking his thumb towards the front door.
"Yes. Yes I do," Nick replied, and the two males entered the house. They passed through a hallway that Nick could only describe as modernly decorated, what with the thin trees in cubed pots and abstract paintings that – in Nick's opinion – weren't worth the money hung along the walls. The lights above painted the corridor in a warm, friendly light that welcomed all guests to the home of Jack and Jessica Savage.
The floor plan of the house was simple. Jack and Nick exited the front hallway, bringing them to the living room. The kitchen and a dining space opened up to the right, and another hallway led to what could be bedrooms on the left. A large, glass, sliding door stood on the far wall, revealing a beautiful view of the backyard. There was a fireplace in the far left corner of the room, its brick mantelpiece one of the only large splashes of color in the prominently white interior.
Among the white sofas situated in the middle of the room sat Judy and Jessica, avidly chatting away. Upon seeing a hint of red enter her peripherals, Judy turned to see her husband standing with Jack. A smile broke out over her face, and she beckoned the two males to come and join the conversation. Jessica followed suit, and soon all four mammals sat together in the living room.
"This is a nice place you got," Nick stated as his eyes traveled around the room, drinking it all in.
Jack chuckled. "Yeah, well, it still doesn't feel quite right. Jessica and I are working towards building our own house here. That way, we would have the necessary permissions to build a burrow when we wanted to have kits."
"Which we will," Jessica sternly reminded, eliciting another chuckle from the hare.
Judy noticed a grin creep across Nick's features. "Yeah, she's a Hopps alright. Judy's just as stubborn with plenty of other topics."
"You're darn right I am!" Judy admitted, though she was unable to suppress the smile that betrayed her. "One of us has got to make sure things get done around here!"
Nick gestured towards his bunny with his paw. "I rest my case," he teasingly stated.
"So, Judy was telling me about how you guys met," Jessica began, a curious gleam in her eye. Jack seemed interested too, for he placed his full attention on the two cops sitting across from him.
The fox and bunny glanced at each other, communicating through more than just words. Nick turned back towards the two rabbits across from him. "You guys know how Carrots and I solved the Night Howler Case, right?"
Jack and Jessica nodded. "Definitely. It was plastered all over the news," the brown bunny said.
"Well, it was because of that case that I had to spend forty-eight hours with this guy," Judy spoke up, jerking her thumb in Nick's direction.
Nick scoffed. "Hey, you're the one who forced me into it," he exclaimed before breaking out into a teasing smile.
Judy hesitated before smiling back. Nick had sounded genuinely ticked off, but she couldn't tell if it was just another act. "Anyway, I wouldn't have forced him –" she shot a quick side-glance at her husband, who nodded in mock approval, "– had I not run into him at an ice cream parlor the day before.
"And that's basically it from there," Nick stated with a bit of nonchalance. "After the case, I went to the Academy, graduated, and became her partner."
"Aww, that's so sweet!" Jessica gushed, placing her paws over her heart. Then her attitude changed on a dime. "Come on, don't you have any juicy details? Your first kiss, what it was like having a crush on the other before you got together – I need to know!" she teased.
Judy laughed. "You would like to know that stuff, wouldn't you? Well, you're not gonna hear it – not just yet. You guys have to tell us your story." Nick nodded in agreement.
Just as Jessica opened her mouth to speak, Jack placed a gentle paw on her shoulder. "Now Jess, remember: the short version."
Nick and Judy couldn't help but snicker at Jessica's feigned offense. However, just as the brown bunny opened her mouth to respond, a shrill beeping erupted from the kitchen, gently startling all four mammals in the living room. "That would be dinner," Jessica preemptively answered as she stood up from the couch. "Jack, why don't you guys go take a seat at the table. We can finish this conversation there."
A low grumbling emanated from both Nick's and Judy's stomachs, betraying their agreement with this course of action. Jack chuckled as he led the two cops away from the couches and towards the kitchen. As they got closer, Judy got a better look at the dining table. It looked just as "modern" as the rest of the house: sharp edges, simple shape, monochromatic design. The black pseudo-wood of the table matched the chairs, which were slightly more impressive. Little dials sat on the sides of the seat, and upon closer observation, it became clear that these were used to control the size of the chair.
Jack noticed Judy's curious scrutinizing of the furniture and smiled. "Impressive, isn't it?" he asked, drawing the bunny cop's attention. "Jess and I got these from Itreea. We can comfortably host just about any medium-sized mammal here, and should we have kits, the table is able to extend."
Judy gave a thoughtful hum and approving nod – it really was impressive. She and Nick took their seats next to each other, and Jack went to see if Jessica needed any help with dinner. The powerfully delicious aroma that wafted from the kitchen began to make Judy's mouth water. Glancing at Nick, the bunny could only wonder how he was faring with the scent of food.
Moments later, Jack and Jessica returned with the food. A large, rectangular pan was placed in the middle of the table, followed by a bowl on one side and a pitcher on the other. Hungry amethyst and emerald eyes fell upon the contents of the pan, and stomachs growled in approval. A light steam billowed from a hearty lasagna, the source of the intoxicating aroma. The bowl contained an appetizing garden salad, complete with a small assortment of different dressings to choose from.
"What's in the pitcher?" Judy asked as the Savages took their seats across from her and Nick.
Jessica gave a broad grin. "I made your favorite: lemonade with just a hint of blueberry."
Judy's eyes went wide with surprise and joy, and her ears stood erect as if to make sure she had heard correctly. "You're serious?" she asked, hope heavily laced in her voice.
Her sister chuckled. "See for yourself," Jessica stated, gesturing towards the pitcher.
Judy quickly reached for the lemonade and poured some into her cup. Without hesitation, she poured some into Nick's cup too, blurting something that sounded like "You've got to try this" as she did so. Once she and her husband were situated, Judy brought the glass to her lips and took a large sip. While she accidentally downed half of her glass, she didn't regret it – it was the blueberry lemonade, and it tasted just as good as it did when she was younger.
Nick had taken a drink as well, but it was considerably smaller than Judy's. His eyes slightly widened as he smacked his lips. "This is really good," he admitted before taking another drink.
"I told you!" Judy exclaimed, already pouring herself a second glass.
Jessica couldn't contain her laughter. "I'd say it's strange to see that the city hasn't changed you, Judy, but to be honest, I'm not all that surprised. You hardly let anything change your mind when you were younger, and I'm sure that you're still like that today."
Judy was too busy guzzling her lemonade to make a verbal response, but she showed her appreciation of her sister's comment by giving a thankful nod.
"You made this for her when you guys were younger?" Nick asked, sounding a touch jealous that he wasn't as lucky as to have this beverage in his life until now.
The brown bunny smiled. "That's right. It was her favorite after-school drink. Being older, I sort of made it my job to take care of her growing up – I helped her with her homework, I played cops and robbers with her, and I tried my best to be accepting of her dream to be a cop, despite not wholeheartedly agreeing with it myself."
"You were easily my favorite older sister," Judy admitted, bashfully smiling from behind her cup.
"Good! It's hard to compete with so many other siblings and whatnot," Jessica joked, and the two sisters chuckled. Suddenly, the brown bunny seemed to remember that dinner was cooked and sitting on the table. "Oh, well, the food's ready. Dig in!"
Nick didn't need to be told twice as he immediately reached for the spatula that sat next to the lasagna. He divvied out a portion for him and shuttled it onto his plate before turning his sights to the salad. After retrieving a sizable serving of greens, he poured generous amounts of dressing on top, much to Judy's amusement. It was rare to see Nick so hungry, but always entertaining.
Soon after the seemingly starved fox, the others dished out their food. Jack, being a gentlemammal, served his wife first before getting his own meal, and even before that did he offer to get Judy's. The bunny cop had politely declined, opting to wait until after Jack had gotten his food. A few moments of silence passed as the four mammals worked on filling their bellies enough to enjoy a conversation.
Unsurprisingly, Nick was the first to take a break from eating and start the conversation. "So, I'm still curious as to how you two met," he said before politely digging back into his food.
Jessica and Jack took a few moments before answering, seeing as they still had some lasagna in their mouths. Jessica was the first to speak up. "Well, in my senior year of high school, my class went on a special field trip to Zootopia. Well, more specifically, to one of the colleges of Zootopia – UZ, University of Zootopia."
"Today, it's still one of the most original names for a college that I've ever heard," Jack joked, eliciting a small glare from his wife for having interrupted the story. "Sorry, carry on." The hare shrunk in on himself just a bit.
Jessica slowly turned back to the fox and bunny sitting across from her. "Anyway, the tour took us out to the stadium where a track meet was being held. That's where I first saw Jack. He was just standing there with his lean build, his strong legs, his gorgeous fur," the bunny trailed off with a dreamy expression on her face.
With an amused smile, Jack picked up the story from there. "Little side-note, but I was one of the best members of the track team that year. I set a lot of new records during my time there. But back to the story, I eventually noticed the group of high-schoolers standing around and watching us, though I couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable they seemed around the predators that were on the field as well. This first struck me as odd, seeing as I hadn't known of how conservative Bunnyburrow was; I had lived in Zootopia all my life.
"There was one mammal in the crowd that stood out from the rest, though. A brown bunny, intently staring at me, yet seemingly comfortable despite there being other predators around. So I walk over, introduce myself with the help of the professor giving the tour, and I get to sort of meet Jessica for the first time."
Jessica shook herself from her daydreaming and continued the story. "After that, I knew that I had to get to know this hare more. So, after I managed to sneak away from the rest of the group, I find Jack and we talk for a bit. It wasn't a very long conversation, but it was enough to tell me that I really liked him and wanted to be his friend. I think you felt the same way, since you gave me your number and all before I snuck back to my group," the bunny added with an inquisitive tone in her voice as she turned to her husband.
"Rest assured, I did feel the same way," Jack admitted with an amused smile on his muzzle. He turned back towards Nick and Judy. "From there, we talked, texted, and MuzzleTimed over the years. Even when I got the job as the accountant and eventually CEO, I never lost contact with Jessica. Our friendship slowly evolved into something more, and we started dating. After she moved to Zootopia to live with me, the rest is history."
"That's the short version?" Nick asked with an almost incredulous tone in his voice.
Jack and Jessica both chuckled. "Yeah, we could easily explain what happened during a lot of our calls or video chats," the brown bunny admitted.
"Well, I think you two are lucky to have each other," Judy stated after finishing off her meal with a sip of lemonade. "What do you do for work, Jessica?"
"I sometimes work as Jack's assistant at the office when Skye can't come in," Jessica answered.
"I'm guessing this Skye is your usual assistant?" Nick asked, turning towards Jack.
The hare nodded. "And close friend. We went to college together," he replied.
From there, the conversation consisted of small talk and quick questions as the four mammals finished eating. Soon enough, every belly was full and content, though Judy still sipped on her lemonade from time to time. The bunny cop made a note to get the recipe from Jessica, seeing as she probably wouldn't be able to survive another day without the sweetly tart beverage now that she had been reintroduced.
Jack cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention and drawing Judy out of her thoughts. "If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to bring up the reason why I invited you here."
Nick quirked an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, it was because you wanted to thank us in person for saving your bank," he stated somewhat dryly.
"Yes, well, that was one reason," the hare confessed. "You see, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What kind of favor?" Judy asked, her husband's faint uneasiness rubbing off on her.
Jack and Jessica glanced at each other, using their eyes to communicate instead of their mouths. A decision seemed to be made as the two rabbits turned back towards the two cops. Jack nervously sighed as he tried to find the right words to say.
"Well, it's sort of, uh, unorthodox for me to ask this of you, but," the hare stuttered.
Jessica groaned and rolled her eyes before taking over for her husband. "He needs your guys' help, alright?" she stated with a somewhat annoyed tone. She then turned to Jack. "See? All you gotta do is spit it out. Sometimes it's okay to be rude, Mr. So Polite That I Can't Properly Function In Society Sometimes."
"You're right," Jack dejectedly agreed. Clearing his throat again, he turned back to Nick and Judy. "How much do you know about Victor Wilde?"
Both cops tensed up at this, caught off guard by the sudden mention of Nick's father and current tormentor. It took a few moments for Nick and Judy to regain their cool, but even when they were fit to answer the question, Judy couldn't help but notice that her husband seemed a bit irritated.
"I know that he owned a tailor shop before it was closed down by the city, and I know that he had to fall back to a life of crime to make end's meet," Nick answered, his tone emotionally dry. This was strange to Judy, who had never heard the fox use this sort of tone before. "I also know that he is currently bent on making Judy's and my life a living hell for no apparent reason."
Judy heard the growl in Nick's voice. Nervous that the fox was getting a bit too worked up, the bunny placed a gentle paw on his arm. Instead of calming him down, however, the act seemed to irritate him more as Nick gently swatted the paw away.
Before Judy could dwell on what had happened for very long, Jack's voice caught her attention. "Well, then I'll spare you the details and get to the point. You see, if it wasn't for your father, I wouldn't be where I am today. My family moved here from the country when I was very young. They were hoping to have an open-minded environment for my siblings and me as we grew up, for they didn't want us to have the conservative mindset that many country bunnies share. However, we soon found that in the city, our finances would be much harder to manage than back home. My parents both worked jobs that kept them away from home all day, and even then, we barely scraped by with the barest of necessities.
"Being alone with my other siblings most of the time, I found myself deep in thought quite often. One day, when I was twelve, my mind suggested that I also find a job to help out my family, so that's what I did. After making sure that my siblings wouldn't tattle on me, I snuck out of the house and began my wonderful journey for some work. Of course, this was all the wish-dream of a naive twelve-year-old – reality is much tougher than that. For the first few days of me sneaking out in the morning and sneaking back in before dinner, I couldn't find anyone who was willing to hire a young hare.
"Then, I found this quaint shop that seemed so snugly tucked away between two tall buildings. The place looked nice enough, and the name made me chuckle: Suitopia. I remember stepping inside, and instead of feeling nervous like I had done with so many establishments before, I felt welcomed despite the fact that no one had come to greet me yet. I was still a bit timid, mind you, so my voice was rather quiet when I called out to see if there was anyone here.
"Moments later, a friendly looking fox entered the room, having just been working in the back. He scanned the room, though his gaze was a bit high at first. When he finally saw me, the smile on his muzzle grew even wider. The fox was your father, Nick, though I do believe that this was well before you were born. Victor asked me what my name was and why I was there, and I felt compelled to tell him my story. I finished by asking for a job, and imagine my surprise when Victor hired me then and there as his personal apprentice!
"For the first week or so, I would sneak out in the morning, go to Suitopia, work, and then sneak back before dinner. Of course, it wasn't long before Victor walked me home and stayed long enough to have a talk with my parents about the whole arrangement. I remember seeing my parents distraught that I had been sneaking out, yet so proud and thankful for what I had managed to do. It was at that time that Victor arranged for my wages to be sent directly to my parents, which was what I had originally wanted at the time. For the next few years, my family and I were able to get back on our feet and have a somewhat normal life.
"And then the city officials came to shut Suitopia down. I cannot remember a more distraught time in my life. The broken look on Victor's face, the police officers' complete disregard for our hard work, the tears that my friends and coworkers shed – I'll never forget it. The only consolation I had after the ordeal was that I was still allowed to remain in contact with most of my fellow employees – including Victor – and that my family was by now at a point where there wouldn't be any financial damage. My parents still felt the emotional blow, however. Here we had moved away from the country to grow more open-minded, only to find that most of the city was as bigoted as the bunnies back 'home.'
"Sadly, my contact with your father slowly faded away, though he never seemed to stop sending my family a little bit of money every now and then. At the time, this was a good sign to me as it was evidence the Victor had found a new job. Only recently did I realize that it was dirty money. Suitopia soon became a sad memory, and my family and I moved on. I went to college, got my degree in Accounting, and set my sights on the Furs Zootopia Bank.
"Now, all of this does have a point. You see, I've found reason to believe that someone's trying to launder money through my bank. Large amounts of money have been deposited via a small business that shouldn't be making as much money as it seems to be doing."
"How much is being deposited?" Judy asked, her curiosity peaked at what the connection between Victor and this money laundering could be.
"What's the name of the business?" Nick asked, seemingly on point with his bunny counterpart.
Jack sighed heavily before turning to Judy. "About five million a month, as far as I can see. However, I've found that I am actually late in noticing it, so the sum could be different than some time ago." He then turned to Nick, and the pained expression in his topaz eyes was clear as day. "The name of the business is Suitopia – the tailor shop that your father used to own."
Before a shocked silence could fall, Jack addressed both cops. "Now, while this gives me plenty of reason to believe that Victor is the one behind this, it's still not enough to bring to the cops for an arrest. However, if a legitimate link was found between your father and this money laundering, then you could finally stop Victor and bring him to justice, or whatever you cops like to say."
Judy could see that part of Nick was excited at the chance to get back at his father, but he still seemed confused about something. "Sure it's not a lot of evidence, but it's still enough to bring to the attention of the ZPD or the IRS. Then they can at least start searching for any suspicious transactions."
Jack nodded, obviously impressed by Nick's dedication to his job over his emotions. "True, but I have the funny feeling that as soon as I get the authorities officially involved, Victor will catch wind of it and get away before anything could be done. I also understand that you two have been kept off the case due to your attachment to your father, but that could be exactly what we need!"
Judy quirked an eyebrow, as did Nick. "How so?" the bunny cop asked, leaning forward on the table as to hear the hare better.
A small smile formed on Jack's muzzle. "You see, if you two started investigating – unofficially – then there's a good chance that Victor won't know until we've already got him. Plus, it'll give you something to help take your mind off of the protests that have started cropping up all over the city."
Jack took a moment to let his words sink in. As he did so, his gaze flicked from Nick to Judy, studying the effect that this newfound information had on them. However, the hare found that both were rather skilled at hiding the full extent of their emotions, for their reactions were greatly suppressed. Judy's nose twitched as she mulled over the recent conversation in her head, and Nick's face was an impassible mask with no crack, if one didn't count the occasional flick of his ear.
"I want you two to remember that this is just a favor; you don't have to say yes if you don't feel up to it. I can easily take this to the authorities, where we would still have a chance of catching Victor with his pants down," Jack stated reassuringly. "Heck, you don't even have to make a decision right now."
Nick and Judy's ears perked up at this, and after a quick glance to each other, they turned to the hare. "We'll sleep on it, and then we'll get back to you soon. Though, you do make an intriguing case, Stripes," Nick joked, though Judy couldn't help but feel that the smirk on his muzzle was forced.
Jack smiled. "Sounds wonderful! I do believe that you have my phone number, should you wish to reach me."
Judy let out a big yawn as she nodded in affirmation. A quick glance to Nick told her that he was probably melting on the inside at the sight, much to her amusement. "Well, it's been a great evening, but I am tired!"
The room filled with the sound of chairs lightly scraping across the floor as the four mammals began to clean up after themselves. Thanks were given all around. Judy and Jessica embraced each other in tight hugs and promised each other that they would stay in touch now that they knew where the other was. While Nick and Jack's goodbye wasn't nearly as intimate, Judy could tell that, given time, the two males could easily get along.
"If it's all the same to you two, I think I'll stay home; Graham will make sure you get to your apartment safely," Jack admitted, looking somewhat tired.
"It's no problem," Nick stated just before he and Judy stepped out the front door. "I was getting tired of looking at your face anyways."
Judy shot him a glare, but Jack laughed it off. "I was under the impression that I was rather good-looking," he contended.
Judy's gaze flicked to the hare as realization hit. "Oh great, a mammal that shares your sense of humor," she groaned in mock despair.
Nick barked out a laugh before giving the bunny an affectionate squeeze. "You know you love it," he teased.
"I'm not talking to you until we get into the limo. You've embarrassed me enough as it is," Judy huffed, though the look she gave Nick betrayed her false anger.
"Ugh, just kiss already!" Jessica cried, suddenly appearing behind Jack as she had recently been cleaning the dishes. She managed to startle Jack, who whipped around to see who was yelling behind him.
Nick chuckled at Jessica's bold humor. "If that's what the people want," he joked as he dipped his head to Judy's face.
Judy, however, placed her finger on Nick's lips, effectively stopping the fox's advance. "Nuh-uh, I'm not gonna give her that satisfaction just yet." She turned back to her sister. "Consider this a lesson. Next time you move into the same town as me, call me up sooner!" she teasingly chided.
While Jessica rolled her eyes, a betraying smile crept over her muzzle. "Methinks that I won't hear the end of this anytime soon, right?"
Judy nodded. "You're darn right," she boasted before dissolving into laughter. "Again, thank you two so much for tonight; we really needed it." The four mammals began to walk towards the limo.
"It was our pleasure," Jack said as he opened the door for the two cops to enter the vehicle. "Thanks for agreeing to come over and listen to my ramblings."
"Yeah, about that," Nick started, leaning forward so that his trademark smirk was visible in the artificial light from the house. "Next time, we get to take up the entire evening talking," he teased.
"As you wish," Jack laughed. "Good night, you two!" With that, he closed the door, and the limo pulled out of the driveway and drove off down the street.
Jack and Jessica watched the sleek, black vehicle disappear around a corner before reentering the house. Once inside, the hare let out a tired sigh as he slumped against the wall. Jessica was there by his side immediately, a look of concern on her face.
"What's wrong?" she asked as her eyes searched for any physical damage.
"It's this whole thing with Victor," Jack admitted as he rubbed his temples. "It's quite draining, knowing that an incredibly close friend of yours is not the patron saint you made him out to be."
Jessica gave her husband a small smile. "I'm sure that Nick and Judy will come around and help," she said in a reassuring tone.
Jack found a smile of his own creeping over his muzzle. "If that's true, then Wilde won't know what hit him." He straightened himself and proceeded to the living room, stopping just short of the large glass doors. From the window, the hare could see the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown Zootopia. Jack's paws crept into his pockets before wrapping around a small object concealed in the fabric.
Jessica walked up behind her husband and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, nuzzling her cheek into his. Jack leaned into the touch before turning his attention back to his view. "Alright Victor, I've made my move," he muttered. He pulled his paw out of his pocket and looked at the small wooden chess piece in his palm. It was the knight, its white wood polished to perfection. "Now it's your turn."
Hopefully this wasn't too slow for you guys, as I never want to force story points down your throats. However, I had a lot of fun bringing Jack back for a more significant portion of the story. Also, for most of you guys, you'll recognize Jessica from One Hundred Kisses, a one-shot series that Cimar of Turalis WildeHopps came up with and asked me to help with. It was a lot of fun implementing Judy's sister into my own story and change her up, though he and I seem to both think that she deserves to be with Jack! Huh, great minds must really think alike, then.
Also, I'm sorry about this being a few days late. The holidays have been busy for me, and my grandparents came to visit on Friday, so I didn't have any time to make the edits my betas suggested. But it's here now, so that's what matters. Also, I will not update this story this Friday, and probably not until January 1st, seeing as that should give both my betas and I enough time to enjoy our holidays. I will, however, be posting a very special Christmas special for A Fluffy Fic A Day Keeps The Boredom Away on Christmas Day, so be prepared for that!
Finally, I'd like to respond to a guest review I got for the previous chapter. To Scout, I'm very glad that you're enjoying my story! By the time I got your review, I hadn't seen Fantastic Beasts, though I really wanted to watch it! Lucky for me, my grandparents took me to see it yesterday, and I loved it! I'm not sure if I would make a story of it exclusively, but at best, I may make a small one-shot of Newt and Tina or a Zootopia crossover. However, this would be later in the future, probably around the time the movie is out on Blu-ray so that I can have that immediate access to story resources.
Anyway, I hope you guys are all having a wonderful and merry Christmas! Until next time!