A/N: Day 4 in Zootopia.
Chapter 28: Verdict
I wake up entangled with a doe I don't recognize. This is not Judy. It sure seemed like someone made the attempt to look like her by all means. Her eyes were closed to painted to look like Judy's own. It's rather scary. I separated myself from her, the reality of what happened last night set in. I screamed.
The imposter asks, "Nick, what's wrong? I missed you so much." Her eyes opened revealing red pupils instead of amethyst.
I reply, "You aren't Judy. Why, why did you do all this?"
"It's okay Nick, I'm here for you."
I shout, "Somebody help me. PLEASE! Oh, no this can't be real. I just need to wake up."
I hear footsteps Frostfang comes in. She remarks, "Oh my, look at what happened here. Nick, you're entirely naked and there's someone in your bed. Are you up for that threesome now?" She wasn't wrong. I quickly put on a pair of pants.
Tom comes in shortly after, "You know the rules Nick. You just broke one of them. Frostfang, it's your fault you know."
"What? I thought he'd be able to tell the difference. I had to console Jennifer somehow. We all deal with grief in different ways."
Jennifer says, "Nick, look at all I've done for you. Isn't that enough? Why won't you accept me?"
Lasan comes in shortly after. He's not pleased at all. He remarks, "Nick, are you that eager to replace Judy? You decorated her to be just like Judy. Have you no shame?"
I defend myself, "That's not what happened at all."
"Why does she look like an imperfect version of Judy then?"
Frostfang comes to my defense, "I was the one who told her all about it. I thought Nick would be smart enough to recognize the difference. Nick, you didn't object at all when she came for you."
Bonnie, Stu and the Prime now all come into the room. Bonnie scolds, "See, what your rumor has done and Jennifer how could you? You went to his bed and pretended you were Judy."
Stu says, "Nick, see all the trouble you've caused. Was it worth it?"
I reply, "I"
The Prime interrupts me. "Nick, you've broken one of the rules. You know what happens now, don't you?"
Oh no, I recall exactly what happened to them. I beg, "Please don't kill me. Please. I'll do anything." I back myself into the corner crying.
Bonnie asks, "The Prime has threatened to kill you before. What makes this different?"
The Prime says, "Anything? You say? Very well. Kill her. That's what you want most isn't it?"
Stu yells, "Nick, you can't! What Jennifer did was wrong but she doesn't deserve to die for it and neither do you."
Bonnie panics and calls the police, "We have a domestic situation here… Nick is begging for his life. The Prime is ordering him to kill Jennifer. Help. Please."
The Prime remarks, "You disapprove?"
"How can you so easily tell him to kill someone?"
"I'm simply giving him a chance to do what he really wants. She pretended to be Judy. He fell for it."
"All of this started because of you and the rumor all of you helped nurture."
Jennifer asks, "What rumor would that be?"
"The rumor that Judy is dead. It spread yesterday and they did NOTHING to stop it and actually played along with it!"
Jennifer cries, "You mean, Judy is ALIVE? Oh no, what have I done? I've never tried to make a move on you Nick because she was alive. Yesterday, you seemed so down and I've wanted you I felt like it was the perfect way to cheer you up. Frostfang helped a lot. I learned of your first time. I even put on a shock collar just for you." The collar shocks her a bit. "I've done everything to try to be like her. She was always better at everything than me. We were of the same litter."
The doorbell rings. Jennifer puts on some clothes and we go to greet the police. The ZPD detachment shows up at our house. Howard sees me alive and well, "Wilde. Explain all this … mess. What happened? By the scent of it, you had sex with a bunny."
Bonnie informs, "Wouldn't you like to know? It's VERY complicated. Why don't we all head inside?"
We all head to the living room to discuss this. Jennifer comments, "Since, the police are here. I'll just go to work now… Okay?"
The Prime says, "Stay. I haven't decided on my judgement yet." I cower in fear, Jennifer stays.
Kate remarks, "Look, I don't care where YOU come from. We follow our laws here. None of you will be killing each other. Understood? Now, someone EXPLAIN what's going on and both of you need a shower." She points to the two of us.
"Nick has broken one of our laws by having intercourse with Jennifer. The usual sentence for this is death."
Mike asks, "Did Jennifer become a member of your order? She has markings."
Frostfang chimes in, "I was the one that gave her instructions on how to look like Judy. The markings she has are just blue paint."
I ask the Prime, "Aren't you going to do something about her?"
The Prime replies, "Why should I? Frostfang did nothing wrong."
"But, she was the reason why I thought Jennifer was Judy."
"Are you telling me that you're incapable of telling that she isn't Judy?" Even in a room with four police. I still fear for my life.
"It was late at night and I was tired from the act I put on."
Brian grumbles, "Nick, can't you stop making a mess? We saw that press coverage yesterday. Why would your order protect the criminals and just … how does this happen?"
"Hey, I'm the victim here. I don't want to die."
Lasan says, "You were unable to tell them apart. You're not a victim."
The Prime notes, "I sense you disapprove of me potentially killing Nick. Very well, I'll stay my judgement for now. I reserve the right to make the final judgement concerning Nick. Tell them what happened, let's see what they think."
Bonnie explains, "Are you aware of the rumor that Judy is dead? The one that Nick spread at school when he got called down there to solve a problem. He was called down there to mediate a conflict between Olivia and Ashclaw. Olivia strongly believes that Judy is dead. Nick never corrected her and let her kept on believing that Judy is dead.
Our guests here simply say Judy is alive but do nothing to discredit the rumor that Judy is dead. William heard it from school then told it to us. He told it to me, he told it to others. Others then spread it in turn. His tale is rather convincing and full of imagery. When my other children act like Judy is dead, they act like it too. The unverifiable truth lost to a rumor. Now, the official tale is that our guests are suffering from post-traumatic stress and that Judy is actually dead. They put on such a convincing show now that I'm not even sure which is true and which is false.
Jennifer here was overwhelmed with grief, Nick acted like it too… and now we are here. Mind you, throughout all this mess Jennifer didn't even know that Judy was alive."
Kate is in disbelief, "Really? All that happened in the span of less than a day?"
Howard comments, "What did I tell you? Nothing involving them is ever simple."
Mike says, "Is this some kind of joke? Nick, you would let someone believe that Judy is dead?"
Brian remarks, "Please tell me there's going to be a clause that says anything involving Judy or Nick deserves extra pay. Anything you two get involved in ends up being way beyond the regular expectations of the job."
"Won't killing Nick be highly detrimental to your goals? Are you aware of the damage that'll cause if you kill Nick? I call your bluff. Go ahead, kill Nick."
I panic when I heard Mike's statement. The Prime moves closer to me, his claws are out. It feels like he wants to kill me. I plead, "Please, I'll do anything. I don't want to die." His claw makes three points on my neck which bleed. "Please…"
Kate saves me just in time, "Alright stop. We believe you." The Prime retracts his claw and lets me go. "Mike that was reckless. You gave him permission to kill Nick."
Mike responds, "To be fair, I didn't think he would actually go through with it. It would contradict what they said to the press."
The Prime remarks, "You wanted to test me? You think that was a bluff? Oh no, I declare my intentions clear and I intend to follow through with them. Now, then Nick still needs to be punished for his transgressions against us. What will you allow?"
"How about this? We lock you away for being dangerous and nothing happens to them."
"I will abide by your decision. If Nick approves."
"I don't see why he wouldn't. You were going to kill him after all. Nick, give us the command and we'll take him away."
"Loyalty. All members of the order are loyal to me and abide by my judgement. He won't give you the command, you'll see."
He's right. I really wouldn't. I just want a punishment that doesn't involve either of us dying. I speak, "He's right. I don't want him locked away. I just don't want either of us to die. I'm sorry I broke one of the rules. Can you please give an alternative?"
Mike asks, "Why do you defend him?"
"You haven't seen what I have, it's my choice."
Jennifer comments, "Why? We could be free from him. Why didn't you have him locked away?"
"I still hate YOU for what you've done. How did you even think that was going to help?"
"Forgive me, but everyone acted like Judy was DEAD. It's your fault you know."
"My fault? You're the one who came into my bed and made me think it was her. You even attempted to duplicate her markings and her collar as well."
"I wanted to cheer you up. I even wore the collar for you. Don't you know how painful it is?" Just then the collar shocks her. "I did it all for you. You were something I couldn't have before."
Frostfang remarks, "You know, that rule you made up forbidding intercourse outside of our partner was fairly recent and it was only due to their own incompetence. That wolf was way too submissive. That sheep didn't care for him at all. Perhaps, it should be changed to how it always was."
Tom notes, "Maybe, then you'll stop asking for it all the time."
The Prime notes, "Your own appetite for sex is insatiable. You and Tom are rather effective though... perhaps."
Kate comments, "If you kill Nick, what about everything else your order supposedly stands for? I assure you. If Nick dies, you won't get any support from us. Especially, not after the new rumor we learned today. Why did you even let that rumor take off?"
Stu says, "Nick deserves to be punished but I don't think he deserves to die. What Jennifer did was wrong but the way everyone else acted didn't help."
Bonnie states, "Regardless of your decision. Know this, this is my home. Neither of them will die today."
The Prime decides, "Maybe, I should torture him? I think that would be more agreeable to everyone."
I concede, "If that's your will. I will accept it."
Kate remarks, "It's one thing to let members of your own order be tortured by not rescuing them. It's ANOTHER thing to torture one of your own because they did something you find objectionable as Frostfang stated earlier, that rule wasn't always in place. I won't allow it even though Nick accepts it."
Howard says, "Kate, you should have dropped it. It's a private affair."
"Don't give me that. We turned a blind eye to many things he has done. This is something I won't allow. We are police here."
Brian comments, "Maybe, we should inform the Chief?"
The Prime asks, "When are the cellphones arriving anyway? I long to chat with the demon with horns."
Mike says, "They'll be arriving at noon. In a few hours. Nick, maybe you should be tortured. You told him our chief is a demon with horns?"
I respond, "Forgive me, they didn't know what buffalo were. A demon with horns is the closest resemblance to what they know. I didn't tell it directly to the Prime anyway."
The Prime declares, "I've decided. The rule forbidding intercourse between others is no longer going to be in effect. It'll be no offspring instead. Frostfang go ahead and rejoice. Do whatever it is you want to do."
Frostfang exclaims, "Finally!"
"Since, Jennifer acted as Judy and that's how all this mess started in the first place. Jennifer will continue acting as Judy until Nick is actually reunited with Judy. Nick, feel free to have sex with her if you want. You two will follow each other throughout the day and Nick, you will explain to Judy when you see her again everything that happened else you will be executed."
I comment, "But, I hate Jennifer. I don't want to be with her. She isn't Judy."
"It's either this or being tortured for a few days."
Jennifer comments, "But I have a job, what about that? I need money you know."
"Nick, don't you have money?"
I reply, "Yes, I do."
"Then, you will pay her for every day she misses work."
"Absurd. This is extremely unfair."
"Remember, my other promise to you. This is how it's going to be unless if you wish to be executed right now."
"I accept your judgement."
Jennifer says, "Cheer up Nick. It won't be that bad you'll see. Can someone take this collar off me?"
The Prime states, "No, you will be collared for the duration too. You chose to try to deceive him in the first place."
Howard says, "I think we're done here? Is there anything else?"
Bonnie replies, "Thank you for coming. I'm glad this somewhat worked out."
"Anyone want to take a bet that nothing will happen in the next few days?"
Kate says, "I'll take the opposite."
"Well, you're finally learning."
They finally leave the house. I'm stuck with Jennifer for the next few days. All, I feel for her right now is hate.
The Prime says, "We need to talk. In private."
Bonnie comments, "I won't allow you to kill him."
"I won't. It's simply something he needs to hear alone." I go with him to an empty room away from everyone. "I know that you hate Jennifer right now, should you lose control and kill her. I will kill you in turn."
I ask, "Why force us to be together then?"
"It's both a punishment and a test. Can you keep control? If anyone is harmed, it most likely her alone. That brings down potential casualties as well because Judy isn't here to keep you in check."
"I understand."
"Now then, enjoy. You can have sex with her if you want. You should be reunited with Judy by the end of the week. Assuming Zootopia helps us."
Three more days without Judy, can I survive? I suppose being stuck with one of Judy's littermates isn't all that bad. The Prime hasn't forced us to do anything, only telling us that we have to be together. We go back to the living room.
Bonnie receives a call from Chief Bogo.
Bonnie immediately hands me the phone. Bogo says, "Wilde, explain to me. Why is your order going to let two of your own be tortured? Also, please explain why there's a newspaper reporting that Judy Hopps is dead? I can't wait to hear this one." When can I ever get a break?
A/N: Forced to be together with someone that you hate. Anyone feel bad for Nick?
