I was not happy. In the few days it had taken me to get back on my feet properly, the video of me jumping out of that window had gone completely viral on Muzzlebook. I was now a veritable celebrity, they even named me. At first I was going to be called 'The Flying Shadow', and there are no words for how pleased I am that did not stick. However after it got out I was a female fox I got stuck with 'The Black Vixen.' I mean seriously? Where are these peoples imaginations? They named me for my colour and species that is just so wrong. Huffing I clicked the news off that was once again showing the window incident footage, I mean I looked cool as hell jumping out of that window, but how many times could they show this? Did they not have anything else news worthy?

Standing from the couch I stretched and winced at the pulling from my side, strolling over to my wardrobe I pulled out one of my many copies of my disguise outfit and pulled it on. Staring at my reflection I frowned at my tail, there was no point hiding it, everyone knew I was a fox. Huffing I grabbed a plain black scarf from the top shelf of my wardrobe and tying it around the lower half of my face, covering my muzzle, I pulled my hood up and headed for the window.

Carefully climbing out I wandered the roof tops, moving slowly, trying to not aggravate my injured side. Settling down to sit on the edge of the apartment buildings roof I had found myself on, I stared up at the clouds drifting by and smiled to myself. A loud gasp had my head whipping round, standing in the doorway of the roof access stairwell was none other than Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.

"Oh for the love of..."

Struggling to my feet I turned to go when Judy's shout caused me to pause. "Wait! Please! I wanted to apologise..."

Hesitating I turned around to see Judy looking forlornly at her paws, knowing I was probably going to regret this I said "well? I won't wait for your apology forever cotton tail."

Surprised the bunny looked up and I grinned at her, although because of the scarf I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be able to see. Positioning myself so the fire escape was bellow me, I sat back down and patted the spot next to me. The two mammals approached me sitting down just out of arms reach, Judy cleared her throat and Nick looked oddly uncomfortable.

"Right well I wanted to say sorry for judging you so harshly before, I mean just because you're a fox and a criminal doesn't mean you're all bad I mean you seem nice enough. Those animals on the news seem to think you helped out, so maybe we could arrange something so you could help out a bit with the case, in exchange for your identity and the information you promised." When she was done she looked so pleased with herself as though she had done me a great favour by apologising and then allowing me to help in exchange for the information I offered, as well as putting my life at risk by telling her aka the police who I really am. No. Thank. You!

Eyes narrowing just a fraction behind my scarf I said "and after the case?"

"Oh well I guess you would need to do some community service or prison time for illegally taking the law into your own paws but you will have helped Nick and I take down the traffickers right?"

Standing I said "okay we're done here."

"Huh?" The silly thing looked so confused, at least the fox seemed to know what I was thinking cos he looked both sad and frustrated.

Snorting and trying to squash the small part of me that said to chuck the bunny of the side of the building, I said "no deal flops'. I am not seeing a lot in this deal for me, so I think I'll pass."

"What!?"

Nick placed his paw over his face and muttered "I told you carrots, it wasn't a great deal so there was very little chance she would go for it."

Nodding I said "right you are Nicky, no self respecting fox is going to make a deal like that. We do what is in our best interest first and everyone else's second. No way Im going to jail twitchy, and definitely no way Im telling you who I really am."

"Why not?" Nick sounded both baffled and curious.

Frowning I studied him hard searching for any tells that would say this was a scam, finding none I said "I don't want to ruin a good thing."

Now both mammals were looking baffled, "what do you mean? 'ruin a good thing.'"

Rolling my eyes I check my wrist for an imaginary watch and said "well wow, just look at the time. I've now filled my quota of mystery and intrigue, so I gotta bounce." Grinning at my terrible rabbit pun, I stood, waved and saluted the pair before stepping backwards of the edge of the building.

Glancing up I saw the rabbit and fox peering over the edge of the building, winking I shouted "see ya cotton tail, later red!" Wrapping an arm around my injured side, I took of racing down the metal steps occasionally skipping a few. Leaping the last meter and a half to the ground, I winced as I jostled my side and spotting a familiar patch of graffiti I quickly ducked into the most confusing maze of alleys present in zootopia.

Leaning on the wall and panting, I relaxed after I finally lost the bunny, after the two had split up the fox vanished pretty quick but the rabbit was relentless. It had taken me a good twenty minutes of ducking, running and back tracking to confuse the fluff ball enough to loose it. Sighing I straightened up and was about to head home when a voice sounded from the fire escape above me, "hey there miss slick, how you doin' down there?"

Freezing I was ready to bolt when I peeked up and saw Nick, just Nick. No Judy the judgmental rabbit.

"She's not that bad once you get to know her."

"Crap did I say that out loud?"

"Nah I'm just that good."

Rolling my eyes I said "what are you doing here? Other than chasing me down of course."

"I want to know what you meant."

"Right, well how about no!"

Turning I was about to walk away when Nick's voice caused me to stop in my tracks "please...I...need..."

Breathing deeply I made the biggest mistake of my life I turned around...and the eyes...oh my god...the pleading look he was sending me was so...so...cute seemed like the wrong word but I couldn't think of anything else to describe it. Almost instantly my resolve crumbled and I found myself gesturing for the fox to follow me, and leading him towards the club.

When we reached the back door I said "wait here." Turning I back tracked to the nearest fire escape and climbed, before working my way back to the club and my window. Awkwardly clambering inside I sighed and walked downstairs, pulling open the back door I allowed the intrigued looking vulpine to enter the building. Shutting the back door behind him, I led him upstairs and into my apartment. Flopping onto the couch I watched the fox as he explored the large one room apartment, picking things up and putting them back down. Finally when he wandered over to the couch opposite me I said "you can't tell anyone about what I am a going to show you. Clear?"

"Yep." Sighing I lifted a paw and pushed my hood back, allowing my ears to spring up. The silver piercing now on show, I could see the suspicion enter his mind on who I could be. Finally I tugged down the scarf and Nick gaped at me. "Vicky?"

"The one and only, officer Wilde."

"Please it's Nick and how?...No why?...no...I...don't...what the hell! I just did not see this coming."

Snorting my mind went to the file I currently had sitting in my desk draw that had some information he really wouldn't see coming, but I felt we've had enough revelations for one day. No need to traumatise the Todd, taking in afore mentioned fox's blank stare I had a feeling I might have broken him already.

"Hey Nick...Nick...Nickolas P. Wilde get a hold of your self."

The fox jolted slightly looking around in a panic before seeing me and relaxing, and then he jerked again "how did you know my full name?"

Snorting I said "really? You're going to ask that? Pretty much as soon as I met you I did a whole load of research to find out as much as I could about you, your bunny friend too. Did you know she has over 200 siblings, that is mental."

"Wow really? Well I have to admit that is what I would have done. I did try but carrots said it was an invasion of privacy to research people like that."

"Do you always do what cotton tail says?"

"Hey! Only I can call her insulting nicknames and get away with it, and no I do not."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I still looked you up, there just wasn't much of anything there. Very disappointing, from a dancer in a club I was expecting much more."

"Sorry to disappoint, and I actually co-own this club with Reg."

"Wow." Pausing he stared out the window for a moment, seemingly at nothing and then said "I'm surprised you told me all this."

Frowning I said "yeah I don't know why either. One part of me says this is the most stupid thing I have ever done, and the other part say this is fine. So yeah, conflicted doesn't even begin to cover what I'm feeling right now."

For several minutes we sat in silence and then Nick's phone 'pinged' loudly. I watched him check it and wince, standing he said "I gotta go, carrots is calling the search off."

Nodding I stood as well and started walking him to the door, "you won't tell anyone will you?"

"No, I...I promise."

Relaxing I replied "thank you."

Ducking his head he vanished out the door, into the dirty alleyway beyond.

xxx

"...reports show The Black Vixen has stepped up her involvement in crime in zootopia, intervening in several important cases to provide crucial information to the ZPD and well as helping to prevent crime on her own in some areas..."

Clicking the TV off I flopped down onto the couch face first groaning about the increased coverage, I hadn't stepped anything up, they just now knew who was giving them anonymous tips and were on the look out for her so spotted me more readily when I got involved with stopping a crime. The news had been showing nothing but this story all day, they even spent an hour in the morning discussing the importance of my change in outfit. After getting shot I thought it prudent to provide myself some more protection, so my new costume was much more armoured.

Sporting a bullet proof vest, gauntlets and shin guards, I had even added a utility belt containing some nets, ropes and even some some smoke pellets I managed to get my paws on. I was much more prepared now, there was even a pouch for evidence and a pocket for my zip ties.

Sighing I rolled off the couch and stretched heading for my closet to grab some fresh clothes. I shed my costume as I walked, leaving a trail of clothes in my wake. Grabbing a pair of soft leggings and an oversized T-shirt, I pulled them on and rounded up the discarded clothes. Shoving the stuff that need to be cleaned in the hamper, before heading back to the kitchen and making myself a coffee.

I had barely sat down with my coffee, when I heard shouting downstairs. Groaning I eyed my coffee and as the shouting got louder I distinctly heard my name, sighing I stood and leaving my mug behind I headed for my door. Pulling it open and descending the stairs, I could just make out a pair of red ears over Reg's head.

"Nick?"

Reg paused and turned to face me, "you actually know this fox?"

When he leaned to the side I could now positively identify Nick's face and said "yeah, yeah I do. Let him in Reg."

The otter huffed and grumbled but let the male fox enter the building, before slamming the door and vanishing back out to the main area of the club. "Vicky?"

"Whats wrong Nick?"

"It's Judy!"

"What?"

"She...she's been captured Vicky. I don't know what to do...she...she...without her I can't solve this, we're a team and I just can't do this on my own and then i remembered you and I...please Vicky, please help me find her."

"Was it the traffickers?"

"Yeah, we just got a lead on a base and we raided it and she got caught and I...I ran. Oh god I ran, I left her there."

Nick looked on the verge of a break down, placing a paw lightly on his arm I said "Nick calm down, we will find her. Together and when we do, she will forgive you. You know why she will forgive you?"

"No..."

"Because she loves you, as much as you lover her Nick."

"I...I...Don't...I..." He trailed off, giving up on denying his feelings when he was in the middle of breaking down.

"Come on then, lets go find these butt-munchers!"

Turning I started back up the stairs, Nick trailing along behind me. As soon as I was in the apartment I headed straight for the large landscape picture on the wall, lifting the image I flipped it over. Displaying the large map of zootopia covered in pins and notes, I said "where was the base you raided?"

Looking more than a bit surprised he pointed to a small industrial estate on the north side of the city just before Tundra town. Nodding I grabbed another pin, an orange one and placed in the spot he had indicated. "Okay..." retreating form the board I grabbed my files and started sorting through them looking for the section filled with blue and white tags, referring to the blue and white pins on the map. Grabbing the appropriate files I started scanning through the pages, growing colder with each word I absorbed. "Shit!"

"What! What is it?"

Nick was pulling on his ears and looked frantic now, frowning I tried to soothe him some "its fine we just don't have long to act. These are the files pertaining to police officers caught by the traffickers, depending on species they are either executed or sold like everyone else. Because Judy is a rabbit it is likely she will be sold not executed, they only tend to kill of the threats. Its fine we just have to move quickly and get her back before she's sold." Seeing the fox calm just a bit I replaced the police files and started looking through the brown files, which was a collection of information on their bases, known and suspected.

A familiar address caught my interest, reading the notes on file about the base a smirk tugged at my lips. Tilting my head and comparing the file to the map, the slight smile formed into a full out grin. "Gotcha!"

xxx

Tearing along the familiar streets I usually ran, in a speeding vehicle was not something I was enjoying, but no matter what I said the crazy ass fox driving wouldn't slow down. Clutching the dash board I tried again "Nick, we can't save Judy if we die in a car accident on the way there!"

"We're fine!" he snapped although I was relieved to note we slowed just a fraction.

In less than half the time it should have taken us we were crouched out side the factory Judy was captured in. "So this is the factory you got the tip of about?"

"Yeah thats the one, now will you please explain why we're here. We already established this was a trap."

"No, it is an actual base. I think they were using it as bait for you and Judy. So in theory they might still..."

"Still be here! Oh my gosh, thats genius!"

"I know, now shush and lets go."

Crawling closer I was thankful for the late hour, too early and I would stand out in my black clothing, but now with the factory bathed in shadows it was the perfect camouflage. Halting at the door, I tried the handle and was both relieved and disgusted when I found the door unlocked. Pushing the heavy steel door open just enough to squeeze through, I crept inside Nick close on my heels. Padding silently into the factory, I immediately ducked behind some large crates. Peeking out into the main area I spotted several cages and amongst them was cage containing one angry looking rabbit, I could see her mouth moving as she ranted to the guards. Straining my ears I could just make out some of what she was saying "...when Nick gets here you are gonna be in so much trouble..." Aw. Smiling to myself I slipped around the crates and tiptoed silently towards a large cage containing a very large tiger, when he saw us he started to growl. Cringing I started whispering urgently "shush, shush, shush, I know. But we are the good guys and we are trying to free all of you, if you give us away we can't help."

Instantly the tiger quieted looking hopeful "you're getting us out?"

"Yes, we are. If I unlock your door I need you to stay quiet and stay put for a minute, just until its safe for you to go okay?"

"Yes of course, thank you so much."

Nodding I quickly pulled the lock picks out of one of my pockets, which I had picked up with the for sight that if we would be breaking Judy out of a cell of some kind we would need them. Inserting the lock pick I set about freeing the tiger. As soon as his cell was open I moved on, sliding from cell to cell unlocking cages. All the animals seemed to understand what was happening as none of them made a sound, however an excited aura filled the room. I could just see Nick out of the corner of my eye also picking locks, I didn't actually know he had a lock pick but I shouldn't have been surprised really.

Seeing that Judy was the last one left, I shifted closer, unsure how to go about freeing her. Backing up some I tried to think, a faint 'plink' echoed through the cavernous space magnified by the acoustics of the room. As the idea started forming, I started climbing the nearest stack of crates.

Now well out of sight, tucked away in the shadows. I pulled my cell phone out and pulled up my album filled with the loudest songs I could find, and pressed play. The sound bounced wildly around the room seemingly coming from several places at once. This caused the guards to panic slightly as they tried to tell where the sound was coming from. The animals whose cages we had unlocked started making a run for it and amongst the chaos it seemed the guards had failed to notice. Standing I waited for the last animal to leave before turning the music off, when guards stoped panicking and realised they were missing a lot of animals they looked pissed. Spotting a flash of red I turned and saw Nick, crouched between two crates just behind a very familiar polar bear.

Locking eyes with Nick I could practically see him begging for me to do something, as Judy was looking around, so hopefully and he didn't want to disappoint her this time. Nodding to him I shoved my phone in my pocket and dropped to the crate stack in front of me, which was a bit lower and bathed in moon light from one of the dirty windows, with a loud thud. "Hello boys, loose something?"


Author note: So a bit of a cliff hanger here, the next chapter is going to be amazing. I am planning a lot of action, and a very interesting twist. So please be patient and review on your way out and I'll be updating again soonish, thanks again.

-SL xxxxx